"When
was the last time we did a little good?" This is the
conscience-pricking question a little coffee-table book from
Singapore seems to be asking its readers. Commissioned by
Siemens Singapore, 'Doing A Little Good' is a surprisingly
polished publication with a chic design of black & white
photographs and interestingly engaging text. To think this
book has been produced by a student team at the School of
Film & Media Studies, Ngee Ann Polytechnic. True to their
experience, this book reveals the story of the team of writers
and photographers who wandered into RDA Singapore to tell
its story. It was work. But the culture shock of the mundane
confronting a simple good offered a refreshing wake-up call
for the team. It was as if everyday people had ventured into
an alien utopia of pure altruism. It's the same experience
many people will feel if they allow themselves to volunteer,
to do something other than for themselves, to do a little
good. At the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA Singapore),
these occasions of kindness and giving are de rigueur, actually
commonplace. RDA Singapore freely assists disabled persons
to gain balance, movement, muscle tone and self-confidence
from learning to ride a horse. Founded in 1982, RDA Singapore
started with just 5 riders, and today, helps more than 100
disabled riders every week. A registered charity, RDA Singapore
relies entirely on volunteers to run the therapeutic riding
program, and donations from the public to meet operating expenses.

With biographies on RDA's horses, narratives of the riders,
and quotes from the volunteers, the book is a visual diary
of the intimate relations forged between adult, child and
beast at RDA Singapore. Each 128-page Black & White coffee-table
book retails at S$39.90, with all proceeds donated to RDA
Singapore. The book can be purchased online from mid-November
2002 at www.selectbooks.com.sg